Military academies create alumni networks that sustain them

If Spanish nobles funded an academy, would its officers feel obliged to support it later in their careers?

Yes. Strong alumni and family ties could encourage former students to support the academy alongside its public funding.

Officers educated at an academy funded by Spanish nobles would be likely to feel an obligation to support it later. Military academies often retain strong ties with former students even when government funding covers their operating budgets. Dartmouth and Sandhurst provide British examples, while West Point, Virginia Military Institute, The Citadel, and Virginia Tech's Corps of Cadets illustrate American alumni and family traditions. Former students and other patrons can sponsor the institution alongside public support. The connections formed through military education can also extend into business.